Adjustable wire netting protector



June 5, 1951 M, W, WENGER 2,555,620 ADJUSTABLE WIRE NETTING PROTECTORFiled Jllne 27, 1949' 2 Sheets-$11981'. 2

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Hoffi/2 h/hnger www 29 ttor/lei Patented June 5, 1951 UNITED STATESPATENT FFICE` ADJUSTABLE WIRE NETTING PROTECTOR Marti!l W. Wenger,Arlington, Calif.

ApplcationJune 27, 1949, Serial No. 101,511

4 Claims. (Cl. B12-140.45)

This invention relates to store equipment and it is an object oftheinvention to provide a device to prevent shop lifting or otherunauthorized re. moval of articles displayed on counters or'the like, asin retail stores,

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of this kindto be placed over merchandise uponY a counter-or-the` like to protect`the same against unauthorized handling, yet in no way obstructing themerchandise to view.

A still further object. of `the invention is to provide a device of thiskind `which is adjustable as to length within certain; limitations andwherein the device includes a front wall, a top wall and end walls, therear face of the device being open to allow the sales person to`haveready access to the merchandise.

The invention also has for `an object to provide a device of this kindto be mounted cna counter or the like in a manner to-be disposedovermer-,- chandise to prevent Yunautchoriized handling and wherein thedevicefisso constructed to allow a portion thereof to loe-moved intoacinoperative position to facilitate dustingof the merchandise and thelike.

The invention consists inthe details` of construction and inthecombination andV arrangement of thel several parts of my improveddevice for protecting articlesA displayed on a counter or the like,whereby certain advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter morefullyset forth.

In order that my invention may be better understood, 1 will nowy proceedto describe the Same with reference to the accompanying drawings,wherein:

Figure 1 is a view from the rear of an equipe ment embodyingtheinvention and in applied position upon a counter;

Figure 2 isa viewin-top plan of thedevice as comprised in Figure 1, buton an enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a view infront elevationof Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially on the line4--11` of Figure 3, an associated counter beingindicated in section;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially on theline 5-5 ofA Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an end elevational view showing the top wall raised;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken substantially on the line1,-1 of Figure 4; and

Figure 8 is a View in perspective with a por? tion broken away of abrace herein employed and unapplied.

As disclosed in the acwmpanyi-ngdrawines, the device comprises affrontWallA,-end `walls Byand a top wall C. The iront wall A and the top wallC are adjustable as tolength within certaintlimitations, as willhereinafter be more particularly referred to.

The front wall A inthe present embodiment of the invention comprises twosections each of desired length and preferably of a height `ofapproximately six inches although of course, this may be varied as therequirements of practice may dictate.

Oneof the sections X of `the front wall comprises a rectangular framepreferably of a heavy wire and including a top bar l, a bottom bar 2,and end bars 3, all preferably formedof a single length of wire ofrequisite guage and rigidity. The bars l and 2 andthe bars 3 areconnected bythe strands 4of wire, adjacent strands 4 being spaced apartnot more thanonainch.

The end bars 3 have depending legs 5 each formed at its outerior freeextremity to provide an .eye member 6 through which a screw may bepassed to securely anchor the sectionjX to the upper end portion of thecounter 1.

The section Y ofthe front wall A, also includes a` rectangular trameof'` substantially the same dimensions as the section X and `includesthe top bar 8, bottom ba-r 9, and end bars Il] all preferably formedfromoa single strand of wire 'of desired guage and rigidity. Associatedwith the bars 8, 9 and I0 are the cross strands Il spaced apart similarto the-spacing of the-strands 4.

The outer end bar l0 is provided with a depending leg I2 terminatinginan eye member I4, whereby the outer end portion of the section Y maybesecured to the counter after the sections X and Y have been adjustedlengthwise onefwith `respect `to the other as thef'length of the countermay determine.

The inner end portions of the sectionsX and `Y of the front wall Aoverlap at all times and welded or.` otherwise secured to the inner bars3 `and ri, `and the adjacent strands 4 and Il, re

spectively, are the flat stripslS disposed in a direction lengthwise ofthe members X and Y. These strips are'positioned at the upper and `lowerportion of a section X or Y and the strips i9 of one section Vat alltimes overlie the strips i9 of `the second section.

Each of the strips I9 is provided therealong `with the slot a preferablysix inches in length. The slots a of the strips i9 of one section X or Yregisters with the slots a of the strips of the second section andthrough which registering slots are disposed the clamping mediums b,herein Ndistlosedi as conventional bolts and nuts. The

slots a of one section in conjunction with the similar slots of thesecond section permit a relative adjustment of the sections X and Y forapproximately twelve inches and the sections X and Y are maintained inselected adjustment by proper tightening of the clamping mediumsrb.

The top wall C is disclosed herein as also comprising two sections Seach of a length substantially equal tothe length of a front wallsection X or Y. Each section S comprises a rectangular wire frame ofdesired gauge strength and has its side bars I5 and end bars IGconnected by the crossed wires I'I and I8 respectively with adja-Y ingthe slots through which extend the clamping'screws 2| to enable thesections S to be selectively adjusted as determined byV the adjustmentof the sections X and Y of the front wall A. v f Y Y The outer end barsI 5 of the sections S at their forward ends are providedl with theextended eye members 22 through which are freely directed the top bars Iand 8 whereby the top wall C may be readily swung upwardly when it isdesired to dust the merchandise on the counter or for the othernecessary purposes. Y Y

Each of the end walls B comprises a rectangular frame of a lengthsubstantially'equal to the width of the associated top section S and ofa width substantially the same as the width of the sectionsX or Y of thefront wall A. The frame on the end wall is also made from asingle strandgfmaterial of requisite gauge and strength and substantially rectangularin form. Y

As herein embodied, each end wall B is independent of thewallsA and Cand includes a frame 23 of Yrequired dimensions with the lower cornersof the frame provided with depending arms 23 terminating in eyes 23d.These arms 23 overlie' an end of the counter and the eyes 23a areada'pted'to have disposed therethrough suitable "anchoring memberswhereby the ,end

sections will be maintained in applied position.

Other ends of the frames 23 are provided with depending armsr24terminating in eye members 25 to permit -the same to be attached, whendesired, tothe counter or to serve as a supporting foot.

In referring hereinbefore to front it is to be understood that the samerefers to the customer 'or public side of the counter or the like withvwhich the device is employed. v

' From the foregoing it is believed obvious that the device when inworking assemblyY upon a counter or the like, has its rear face open sothat the sales person' can readily handle merchandise in making a salewhile at the same time Y the device serves. as an effective guardagainst `which has a fork 21 at one extremity to engage .from below awire 'I'i or I8, while the opposite extremity is` pointed, as at 28, toassure effective contact or engagementwith the counter surface. a It isalso .desirable'to eiectively support from 4 below the sections S of thetop wall C so that merchandise of material weight may be placed on theequipment or to withstand excessive pressure imposed upon the equipment.

Welded as at 29, or otherwise securely held to the wires Il or I8 atdesired points on Ysections are the supports or props P. As illustratedin Figure 7, of the drawings, each support or prop P comprisestwo strips30 and 3I having their inner ends overlapping with one of the strips,having a slot 32 disposed therealong and through which is directed aclamping medium 33 carried by the second member 3l. By this means theprops may be adjusted lengthwise as the requirements ofrpractice maydictate and the clamping means serves to hold the props in desiredselected adjustment. u

While e the clamping means may vary, it is preferred that' the samecomprise a conventional bolt and nutas illustrated. Y

'I'he outer end of each of the sections S of the top wall C arecontinued by downwardly disposed extensions E substantially at rightangles thereto and which provide means for closing the spaces betweenthe outer ends of the top wall C and the tops of the end walls B whenthe top Wall C is raised.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a devicefor protecting articles displayed on a counter or the like constructedin accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use byreason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembledand operated.

I claim: Y Y

l. A device for protecting articles displayed on a counter or the likeagainst unauthorizedV removal, comprising a lfront Wall, means carriedby the low'er portion of said wall for securing the same to the counteror the like, a top wall pivotally-mounted on the upperportion of thefront wall to permit raising, and lowering of the top wall independentlyof the Yfront wall, and end walls also having means for securing them tothe counter, all of said walls being formed of reticulate sections Vsothat the counter may be viewed through the device, brace elementscarried by the topwall for contact with the counter or the like uponwhich the device is placed, and end members dep-ending from the top wallto close the spaces between the end walls and top wall when the top wallis in'raised position. 2. A device, as set forth inclaim l, wherein thefront and top walls are each composed of overlapping longitudinalsections or Wire screening with the sections clamped together to .permitlongitudinal adjustments on counters of dilerent lengths, and whereinthe brace elements are in the form of props depending from and rigidly'secured to the sections of the top wall. 3. A device for protectingarticles displayed on a counter or the like against unauthorizedremoval, comprising a front wall, means carried by the lower portion ofsaid wall for securing the same to the counter or the like, a top wallpivotally mounted on the upper portion of the front wall to permitraising and lowering of the top wall independently of the front Wall,and end walls also having means for securing them to the counter, all ofsaid walls being formed of sections of open wire screening so that thecounter may be viewed through the device, and props depending from andrigidly secured to the top walls for contact with the counter or thelike upon which the device is placed.

2,555,620 5 4. A device, as set forth in claim 3, wherein REFERENCESCITED the top Wall has mtegrauy Copnected end mem" The followingreferences are of record in the bers `m the form of dependmg,sector-shaped me of this patent. walls to close the spaces between theend walls and the top wall when the top wall is in raised 5 UNITEDSTATES PATENTS position. Number Name Date 903,821 KaI'gBS NOV. 10, 1908MARTIN W. WENGER. 967,366 Gordon Aug. 16, 1910

